Academic Community Must Be Grounded and Create Real Impact, Says West Java Governor

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has invited the Alumni Corps of the Islamic Students Association (KAHMI) of West Java to strengthen the role of academics so that they do not stop at the realm of ideas, but are able to produce works and real impact for society.

The message was delivered by Dedi Mulyadi while serving as keynote speaker at the official opening of the Seventh Regional Conference (Muswil) of KAHMI West Java at the Grand Asrili Hotel Convention, Bandung City, on Friday evening (7/8/2026).

According to Dedi Mulyadi, the nation’s problems cannot be sufficiently resolved through changes of regime or changes in regulation. Indonesia needs thinking that can be translated into concrete action and that departs from an awareness of the roots of Nusantara culture.

KDM, as he is familiarly known, believes that there has been a gap between academic thought and the reality of people’s lives. In fact, various problems in urban areas located around educational centres serve as an illustration that knowledge has not yet been fully translated into solutions.

KDM said that the ancestors of the Nusantara did not treat knowledge merely as a collection of books or writings, but rather manifested it in the form of awareness and real works.

Therefore, in his view, the measure of knowledge’s success is not only how many academic degrees have been attained, but the extent to which that knowledge provides benefits for public life.

“Our academic culture is often normatively administrative, aimed at fulfilling degree requirements, without honesty and justice, and without upholding the values of truth,” he said.

KDM then emphasised the importance of academics becoming creators or innovators.

According to him, an intellectual is not enough merely to possess knowledge, but must also be able to produce something whose benefits can be felt by society.

“If one is a creator, then something must be created. One can create songs, architectural works, education systems, application systems, energy systems,” he said.

In that context, “Bapak Aing” also encouraged KAHMI to be able to translate grand ideas and Islamic values into language that is simple and easily understood by the public.

“All heavenly language must be explained in earthly language,” he said.

The West Java Governor also cited the character Semar in Javanese shadow puppetry, who in his view illustrates the importance of a leader’s presence among the people. Although holding a high position, Semar chooses to appear as one of the people and as a leader at the lowest level in order to bring about change directly.